Ukrainian rescuers carry an injured pregnant woman from Mariupol’s damaged maternity hospital (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

I joined political analyst Susan Del Percio and BBC 5 Live’s Colin Murray on Thursday to discuss the latest in Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and the international dimension, especially whether the US will maintain support of the Ukrainian Government and people.

Listen to Discussion from 1:35.22

As bad as the Russian bombing of Ukraine has been — and it has been horrific — it will be far worse if Russia has unrestricted use of the skies….

If you do not provide Ukraine with jets, you are handcuffing them in one vital theater of this conflict. And if you are handcuffing them, you need to be honest about it: “We’re prepared to support you part of the way, but we’re not going any farther”….

This is a defining moment. Because you not just talking about support for Ukraine. If you let this country go, you are saying that none of us enjoy the rules of security which we have had — perhaps imperfectly — for decades.

I also spoke on Wednesday with Turkey’s ANews, considering the US ban on Russia’s oil, gas, and coal.

Taking no action over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is effectively saying that he can blackmail the international community and not only attack Ukraine but also other neighboring countries — just by threatening a rise in prices at gas stations.